Where does “specially” come from?
Specially comes from Middle English specially, formed from Middle English special and the adverbial suffix -li, which derives from Old English -līċ, ultimately from Latin specialis meaning "of or pertaining to a particular kind."
specially (English): For a special purpose, person, or occasion;...
Definitions
- For a special purpose, person, or occasion;...
Ancestry of “specially”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | specialli | specially, especially |
| 2 | Middle English | special | — |
| 3 | Old French | especial | special; powerful; mighty |
| 4 | Latin | specialis | specific |
| 5 | Latin | speciēs | seeing, view, look |
| 6 | Latin | speciō | to observe, watch, look at |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | spekjō | to observe, to see |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | spéḱyeti | to be looking at, to keep looking at |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | speḱ- | to see, to look, to observe |